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Computing languages in other countries

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:23 pm
by tarrigo
This may seem like the weirdest question ever, but I was curious if they write php code in english all over the world?

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:33 am
by timvw
Offcourse not.

(But that doesn't want to say i find it a good idea to use variable names, add comments, ... in another language than english.. )

thanks

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:08 pm
by tarrigo
I was curious because if I wanted to go work in Germany for a while or even Belgium for that matter, if there would be major issues for developers in hiring me.

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:25 am
by Kieran Huggins
I think what he's asking about is function names, etc... check out the German "Sprachreferenz":

http://www.php.net/manual/de/ref.array.php

They seem fairly "English" to me!

I would be more concerned out communication with your co-workers, as well as reading/writing comments. (You do write comments, right?)

Cheers,
Kieran

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:37 am
by timvw
In my experience all developers understand english fairly well ;) Almost all the shops i'v seen, deliver their specifications in english... And want the implementation (including comments and extra documents) to be delivered in english..

On the other hand, a friend once told me they have to use dutch names for variables, methods, comments, ... only to ensure that their work wouldn't be outsourced... (Personaly i don't think thats a good strategy, but that's another discussion)


Conclusion: It will depend on the place where you end up and in my experience larger shops (starting from 50+ developers will almost always use english as 'working language'... For after-hours-activities and social contact you'll have to learn their native language though...